Newspaper Page Text
ccut- >tu*t cvild udieti ^ccfrcct d>u%w& (bic& fca, (kw
By Tameka Gambreli
Contributing Writer
Valentine’s Day. That nationally
recognized day of “coupledom” we’ve
come to either love and abhor, or, if you’ re
like most people, you haven’t given it a
thought.
Well, forget about tacky flower/balloon
arrangements, juvenile teddy bears and
candy purchased at the last minute from
the comer drugstore. The Panther checked
in with several Atlanta stores for consumer
offerings this Valentine’s Day.
Incidentally, Valentine’s day falls during
National Condom Week—a timely
reminder that intimacy mustn’t preclude
safety.
In the wake of AIDS and unplanned
pregnancy, smart choices include the Love
Gasket, three pre-packaged premium latex
condoms available at Condom Sense in
Buckhead and the book of Exotic Massage:
the T ouch of Love used with Kama Sutra’s
Massage Oil. And a favorite Pleasure
Garden, a delightful bouquet of jasmine,
rose and sandalwood.
If your tastes lean toward the prurient,
however, other buys guarantee equal
appeal. Ranging from the innocent (red/
white ‘glow-in-the-dark’ boxers) to the
corny (Champantie- a bottled bikini) to
the downright absurd (stuff 1 can’t repeat
which would’ve made interesting visuals
for this article), Condom Sense is full of
imaginative selections that cater to your
every whim.
Perhaps, there isn’t a creative bone in
your body. Well don’t worry- some
retailers do it for you.
“We get a lot of guys who come in
with no clue and we’ 11 put them together,”
said Christy Phelps, a consultant at Lenox
Square’s Bath & Body Store.
Bath & Body, a national chain for
skincare products, offers affordable lines
for men and women.
Most items here are under $25 and make
great gifts for clients and friends.
Everybody’s gotta bathe, right?
Shopping perks: none stinks here and
the demo- sink allows in- house testing.
Suggestions: (for her) Plumeria Shower
Gel/Lotion set and sachet for lingerie
drawer; for him, tranquillity candle,
wooden foot massager, or football mug
filled with shower gel, loofah soap, mesh
sponge and wire brush.
Similar treats [and more] await you at
Victoria’s Secret. The store’s fragrance
department is already a hit with Atlanta
University Center students; its Pear Glace
and Peach scents are ubiquitou s on campus.
And, as if they aren’t tempting enough,
Victoria’s sexy lingerie is sure to take you
through Valentine’s and beyond. Best
bets are the black and red silk chemises
(for her) and silk boxers (for him).
In the event money is really tight,
creativity is paramount. Make a romantic
evening of staying in. Rent classic movies
like Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It” or
“Mahogany”. You can even opt for a
provocative foreign film such as, “The
Lover” (French) and “Like Water for
Chocolate” (Spanish). You can also read
each other poetry from a borrowed library
book. Or, disconnect the phone and
prepare a vegetarian banquet for two with
new age music in the background.
Two to try are sensual Latitude/40
Degrees North and Celestial Winds/Oceans
of Love (great bathing music). Both
available at The Nature Store (Lenox).
While wooing a mate with conventional
things might work, using the day to evaluate
your relationship together may be more
beneficial. Jawanza Kunjufu’s “The
Power, Passion, and Pain of Black Love”
or George Subira’s “Money Issues in Male/
Female Relationships” provide excellent
starting points. An especially good read is
“Friends, Soul Mates, and Lovers” written
by the Doctors Hopson- an enlightened
husband-wife team that actually know of
what they speak.
Also, this Valentine’s Day, discover the
joys of self-love. Do some introspection
on what makes you lovable and
independent of a partner.
Invest in a copy of “Body & Soul”: the
Black Women’s Guide to Physical and
Emotional Well-Being (Linda Villarosa)
or the Black Men’s Guide to Good Health
or Visions of Health (Na’imAkbar). Draw
yourself a bath with candles and Calvin
Klein’s Escape Muscle Soak (Men’s
Fragrance Department, Macy’s).
After all, the first step to loving someone
else is loving yourself...Witness, “Waiting
to Exhale.”
'Day Picture 'Poll: (2/4% Students tell all
Photos by Diallo Marvel
Furquan
Washington
Frankfurt, Germany by
way of The Planet Pluto
Junior
Mass Communications
I plan to lounge and chil
will someone close to
me. I don’t need a day in
February to express my
love to the person close
to me. But being together
is nice none the less.
Kimm
Beavers
Chicago, IL
Senior
Theater Arts
“I plan to host a dinner
party for a few
couples. We will
exchange stories of
how each other met
and have them express
their love for each
other. ”
Mariahdessa
"Ekere" Tallie
Queens, NY
Senior
Mass Communications
“A friend of mine told
me that Valentine’ s Day
was not all about
romance and she was
right. So I just try to let
anyone I love know that
I love them.”
Eric
Taylor
Chester, Penn.
Junior
Journalism
“Make dinner for a
lady friend and have a
nice quiet evening.”
The Panther wishes you a
Happy Valentines Day !